Parish Council Meeting Minutes 11th November 2025 Draft
Draft Parish Council Meeting Minutes 11th November 2025
Present: Parish Councillors: Mrs P Cranfield (Chairman), Mr A Wilson, Mr D Hawes (Vice Chairman) Mrs A Treacy, Mrs E Unwin and Mrs M Avis.
In Attendance: Mrs Carole Sands (Parish Clerk) and Councillor Mr M Hill (Lincolnshire County Council).
Public Open Forum : As there were no members of the public present at the meeting, the Chairman closed the open forum.
National & District Council Updates: Councillor Hill gave a brief update to the Council members on things happening in the local area, including the review of the waste recycling centre in Bourne, the LCC Permit scheme review which is out for consultation and the consultation to reduce the speed limit to 30mph through Grimsthorpe.
Commencement of the Parish Council Meeting
2526/5/65 Apologies for Absence: None required.
2526/5/66 Approval of the Minutes: It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the Parish Council meeting 11th September 2025 as a true and accurate record. Proposed by Councillor Mrs A Treacy and seconded by Councillor Mr A Wilson.
2526/5/67 Request for Dispensation: None requested
2526/5/68 Declaration of Interest: Councillor Mr A Wilson Agenda item 2526/5/72
2526/5/69 Parish Clerk & Councillors Update from Previous meeting:
5/69/1 Councillor Vacancy: To date there has been no interest shown, the Parish Council members asked the Parish Clerk to continue to advertise the vacancy on the website, village notice boards and in the Three Towers Magazine.
5/69/2 Annual Carol Singing: The date is confirmed as 16th of December 2025 commencing at 6:30pm, in the field on the corner of Church Lane, after the traffic light bridge. The event has been advertised in the Three Towers Magazine. The damaged pipework that secures the tree in the ground has now been replaced and fixed in readiness for when the tree is delivered. Chair to confirm delivery date for the Christmas tree which Grimsthorpe Estate have kindly agreed to donate. The Parish Council members RESOLVED to supply the refreshments and batteries for the tree lights, all receipts to be given to the Parish Clerk. Chair will welcome everyone at the start of the Carol singing. Parish Clerk asked to see if we can find someone to lead the singing.
5/69/3 River Vegetation Management: Following the PC meeting in September, as agreed the Parish Clerk contacted the Environment Agency to ask about silt removal in the local river. The agency has stated that the field teams will remove vegetation as deemed appropriate working in accordance with Environmental Guidelines and Flood Risk Management standards. This work may also assist with the natural movement and reduction of silt in the river but will not remove it all. They also sent a document regarding desilting.
2526/5/70 New Parish Council Matters:
5/70/1 Mid-Year Internal Audit Report: Audit report sent out to all Councillors in advance of this meeting. The Council members RESOLVED to accept the report findings, and an action plan has been formulated to close out points raised.
5/70/2 Parish Clerk holiday May 2026: The Council Members RESOLVED that the meeting in May 2026 be bought forward from the second Tuesday of the month to the first Tuesday 5th May 2026 due to the Clerks holiday plans.
2526/5/71 Play Area:
5/71/1 Internal Inspection & maintenance: Councillor Treacy’s inspection report was forwarded to the Parish Council members in advance of this meeting. This report has not identified anything that it not already detailed in the annual external report (August 2025).
5/71/2 Long Term Future of the Play Area:
The trim trail near the Village Hall requires refurbishment. However, the Parish Council currently faces a significant funding gap, which prevents the necessary works from proceeding.
- Total cost of refurbishment: £2,981.92 (excluding VAT £596.39). Total including VAT: £3,578.31.
- Budget allocation for FY 2025/26: £1,500.
- Resulting shortfall: £1,481.92 (excluding VAT).
- Previous year's expenditure: £3,391.96 (excluding VAT £678.41). Total including VAT: £4,070.37, spent on replacing wooden posts, other structures, and refurbishing grass areas.
The trim trail is currently rated at amber level in the ROSPA safety inspection (August 2025). This status requires ongoing monthly monitoring to ensure the equipment does not deteriorate further and reach a red level, which would indicate a safety risk for children.
Decisions and Next Steps:
- If monthly inspections identify further deterioration and the equipment becomes a safety risk, it will be removed.
- Should the removal require external contractors, additional costs may be incurred.
- The Parish Clerk will notify the local primary school, junior football club, and village hall committee about the potential removal of the trim trail play equipment. The two sets of swings will remain unaffected.
- The Parish Clerk is to continue seeking potential funding sources to support refurbishment works, noting that grants are more readily available for new installations than for refurbishment.
The Parish Council RESOLVED that the priority must be the children's safety and agreed to take prompt action if the condition of the equipment worsens.
2526/5/72 Village Hall: The engrossed document is expected from Grimsthorpe Estate soon. Once available this will be forwarded to the Village Hall committee.
2526/5/73 Planning Matters:
5/73/1 Western Marsh to East Leicestershire Grid Update EN0210007: The Parish Clerk received an email (7/11/25) from the Planning Inspectorate confirming that the Applicant for the Proposed Development intends to make an application for the Development Consent under the Planning Act 2008. The Parish Council are invited to submit comments by 5th December 2025.
The Parish Council have not received any other planning applications.
2526/5/74 Financial Matters Income: The Parish Council members noted this receipt as confirmed by the community bank account statement. This figure was checked against the bank account statement by Cllr Wilson.
5/74/1 SKDC Community Street cleaning grant £463.32
2526/5/75 Financial Matters: Expenditure the Parish Council members RESOLVED to accept the expenditure detailed below.
5/75/1 Village Hall Grant £350
5/75/2 December Salaries & HMRC Payment (estimated) £597.54
5/75/3 Microsoft software £84.99
5/7/4 Black Ink cartridge £21.47
5/75/4 Salary & HMRC Payments September 2025 (4/60/3): £606.18 This was noted by the Council Members as detailed in the bank account statement and bank reconciliation. These figures were checked against the bank account statement by Cllr Wilson.
The Council members noted the error on Parish Clerk salary letter which had the incorrect hours of work, it was RESOLVED that the hours of work remain as detailed in the original contract which is 72 hours per year and therefore the salary and backpay paid in September 2025 was correct. It was RESOLVED that a full contract review take place in the next FY.
2526/5/76 Financial Matters Bank Reconciliation: The Parish Council members RESOLVED to accept the bank reconciliation as detailed below, these figures were also checked against the bank account statement by Cllr Wilson.
5/76/1 Community Bank Account (31/10/25) £4,538.79
5/76/2 Business Bank Account (09/10/25): £500.36
All payments made via the Community bank account and interest received on the Business bank account to end of October 2025 are detailed in full on the separate document attached to these minutes.
The Parish Clerk provided an overview of budgeted expenditure to the end of the FY year 2025/26, this was noted by the Council members. The Parish Clerk shared the draft budget proposal for 2026/27 this was noted by the Council members who agreed to finalise it at the Parish Council meeting on 13th January 2026. The Precept also must be confirmed in January 2026.
2526/5/77 Parish Council Policies & Procedures:
5/77/1 Review list of documents required: The Parish Clerk is working to amalgamate policies and procedures where duplication is noted, going forward this will help with the management and review process. This was agreed and noted by the Council members.
The Members RESOLVED to accept the updated Standing Orders, Financial Regulations documents. Parish Clerk to publish these on the Parish Council website
5/77/2 Standing Orders: Approved
5/77/3 Financial Regulations: Approved
5/77/4 Asset Register: The Council members noted that the bus shelter is missing from the list which details the costs and dates of purchase. Parish Clerk asked to update this document before publishing on the website.
2526/5/78 Correspondence: Various items have been received which have been forwarded to the Parish Councillors prior to this meeting. Those worthy of note are detailed below:
5/78/1 Anglian Water Pipeline Update: The company have confirmed that work is progressing well, the focus is on reinstating the land, and where, possible this is being returned to landowners. Pipe laying work is expected to be complete by Summer 2027, with reinstatement works to be completed late 2027. The A151 works in Edenham were completed early as part of the recent road closures.
5/78/2 Local Government Reorganisation: Structural changes to how local councils are organised or operate.
5/78/3 Lincolnshire County Council: Consultation document regarding speed limit reduction to 30mph along the A151 in Grimsthorpe. The Parish Council welcome this change. Road Safety Partnership have requested this change following the Archers study.
5/78/4 Lincs Reservoir Project: Following an adjustment to the project programme, work restarted early in 2025 to further develop Anglian Waters proposal full details can be found on their website www.lincsreservoir.co.uk
5/78/5 Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) H5N1: The Parish Council received notification that this has been confirmed near Donington, South Holland and Corby Glen. Bird keepers need to be aware of their legal responsibilities and the current restrictions. Lincolnshire Trading Standards provide full details on their website www.Tradingstandards@lincolnshire.gov.uk
2526/5/79 Next Meeting Date: 13th January 2026
There being no other business the Chair closed the meeting at 20:53
Monthly_Expenditure_and_Income_Parish_Council_Bank_Accounts_1st_April_2025_to_31st_March_2026.docx